The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1988 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai Haaskivi player-coach. Miller and Haaskivi brought back many players who had become fan favorites during the Force's height of popularity in the mid-1980s. The Crunch's home arena was the Richfield Coliseum.